Transition Update...

So, here we are on the last Friday before Spring Break (for our school), and I have a good bit of information to pass along. This will be less devotional and more informational, so I apologize if it's not what you're used to...

I received an email from Pastor Rushing this morning stating that they have indeed solidified the house for rent in Martinez for our family. This, in and of itself, is a huge answer to prayer. So, praise the Lord! Concerning start-up costs for renting, the landlord is only asking the first month rent. So, there will be $2,500 left of the money the church is providing for relocation expenses to help get the car ready to go and to help off-set some of the shipping costs! If that weren't enough, he also said that the house will come with a dining room table and chairs, refrigerator, stove, 2 twin beds, and a queen-sized bed, and that some church members have set aside 2 recliners, a love seat, and an easy chair with a footstool for us. I was taken aback, to say the least. I never imagined that this much furniture would be provided for us!

So, I shot an email to the fellow that did the shipping estimate for our household goods, and told him that we wouldn't be shipping as much as we originally thought. About half an hour later, I recieved an email back from him with a new quote. Not shipping our dining room table/chairs, kid's bed, and king-sized bed knocked no less than $606 off our shipping costs, bringing the quote to $2,389.30! Another huge praise!

Additionally, we also recieved support checks from both my father and my grandparents in Texas. So, God continues to provide things at just the right time. Thank you all so much for your prayers for us as we continue to prepare for the trip back to the US.

Now, for some more prayer requests that have presented themselves recently:

1. Our school is sending out no less than 4 missions teams to different areas over Spring Break. One is going to help a couple UBC missionaries in Manila, Philippines, another is going to help a UCC missionary deep in the jungles of Palawan, Philippines, still another is going to Bangkhok, Thailand to help the Baptist Student Center there run a Vacation Bible School, and finally, one team is headed to an island off the eastern coast of Korea, named Ulleongdo, to minister in a number of different ways to the people who live on the island. All of these teams have multiple teachers going as chaperones and team leaders, not to mention all the students. In all, there are approximately 58 people associated with our school travelling to these different missions. Please PRAY that God's hand of safety will be upon them, that God's hand of power will be with them, and that these trips will be instruments of spiritual encouragement and rekindling.

2. This is a praise that I would like to join me in praising God. Our soccer team in the last two weeks have shot from 2nd to last place to 3rd place! We have won our last three division games in commanding fashion. I know that this is solely due to the prayers of you all reaching the ears of God, and His hand working in their hearts. The spirit of the team has done a complete 180 degree turn for the better, and they have finally decided to play together as a unit. It is, once again, a pleasure to coach soccer for my assistant and I.

3. About 2.5 years ago, we turned in our old desktop computer, and purchased a refurbished laptop to be used as our family computer. Well, the laptop is on the way out, now. It is still working, but the display is on the fritz, and we can barely read what it is that we do on it. I knew that we would have to replace the laptop soon, but I was hoping it would last until we returned to the US. It doesn't look like that's going to happen. Please PRAY that God will guide me to the perfect replacement.

Well, that's about it for now. Thank you again for everything that you all have done in prayer and support. It is entirely appreciated, to say the least.

In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.